Qantas asks ACCC to delay Virgin deal

: Latest News; Wednesday, 15 September 2010

Australia's Virgin Blue airline group faces the possibility of a third antitrust knock back in less than a week, after rival Qantas reportedly asked the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission to deny interim approval for the proposed Virgin Blue and Etihad Airways alliance.

Qantas said that although it supports the idea of 'immunised' international alliances, it is concerned that the Etihad deal could impact fares on the Australia-Europe run by setting Abu Dhabi-Europe prices.

Any interim permissions granted to the two airlines could be difficult to untangle if the ACCC (or its antitrust counterpart in the UAE) eventually decided to not approve the alliance, Qantas said.

Virgin last week saw interim blocks applied to its proposed trans-Pacific alliance with USA carrier Delta and to its trans-Tasman alliance with New Zealand's Air New Zealand.

Virgin said it will appeal both those rulings.

Qantas asks ACCC to delay Virgin deal

Latest News

Wednesday, 15 September 2010

Any interim permissions granted to the two airlines could be difficult to untangle if the ACCC (or its antitrust counterpart in the UAE) eventually decided to not approve the alliance, Qantas said.

Virgin last week saw interim blocks applied to its proposed trans-Pacific alliance with USA carrier Delta and to its trans-Tasman alliance with New Zealand's Air New Zealand.

Virgin said it will appeal both those rulings.